Disclaimer::JK
owns the characters and Harry Potter. The plot is all mine.

A/N::
This is it folks.. it's done.. took too long I know..but I couldn't
seem to get what I wanted to paper. I hope you all like it.

SeulWolfe.

IX::Wings
and Babes

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Morrigan
held the babe in her arms, speaking to those gathered, "You have
done well my Angels." Vasaio knelt before his queen, "And
you, my loyal Warrior, have done well. In the face of vengeance you
sought redemption. A second chance for this soul, this babe who was
once known as Thomas Marvolo Riddle..."

"He
must be destroyed! His soul is black and poisoned with Dark Magic!"
shouted a furious Albus Dumbledore, as he stumbled, pushing his way
quickly through the gathered Angels.

"Albus,
son of Wulfric. You sadden me with your words. Souls have been purged
on the field of battle, this day. Second chances to make right deeds
done wrong...to walk a different path set by these Warriors around
us." Looking down at the wee one sleeping soundly and peacefully
in her arms, she continued, "This child never had a chance in
his first life. Vasaio, also known as, Harry, son of James, has given
him that.

She
looked around her at the many faces. "Death is not the answer,
when life becomes the gift." Smiling at those gathered, she
called out, "Severus, son of Tiberius. Come forth!"

Severus
Snape, in all of his years as a spy, never feared anything. Be they
Dark Lords or old bearded men calling themselves Headmasters and
leaders of the light. But right now...as he was called forward by the
Queen of the Heavens, he was terrified.

"Do
not be afraid, Severus Snape, for you have stood before me many times
in the past. Your soul remembers me, but your mind has yet to waken
those memories." She stood there among the angels, warriors
waiting for the man to make his way slowly towards where Harry and
the others waited.

To
where Albus Dumbledore stood fuming.

As
he came to stop before the beautiuful woman, she smiled down at him.
She reached out with one hand and lightly touched his cheek. "It
is time to remember." A light engulfed him as she spoke,
"Remember the lives you have lived. Remember the bonds you have
forged through many lifetimes with your mate, Vasaio."

As
he closed his eyes, and felt the touch on his cheek, a wave of
memories and mental images rushed through him, gently but swiftly,
awakening a thousand year bond. He gasped as it flared to life
again.

It
was as if part of him had been restored, giving him a feeling of
wholeness for the first time in his lonely existence.

Severus
swayed as the onslaught continued, and as he began to fall, wings
came from nowhere to cradle him and hold him safe until the memories
settled themselves at home again.

"Severus."
Came a warm voice, ghosting over him as he leaned back, cradled in
gentle wings. Feeling the warmth of another's skin against his
own, he opened his eyes to see emerald green eyes looking into his
soul. Vasaio had leaned his forehead against Severus'. The warmth
of tears tracked unnoticed down his cheeks as an ancient love filled
his being. A sob escaped his lips as Vasaio wrapped his arms around
him and pulled him close, keeping them secluded within the circle of
his wings. Severus laid his head on Vasaio's shoulder and wept out
his joy.

"Vasaio."

Vasaio
unfurled his wings as his mate wiped the tears from his face.

"Yes,
my Queen." Vasaio kneeled at the feet of Morrigan. "Are you
ready to take this child into your heart and into your family? To
teach him love and respect for man and wizard?"

Vasaio
looked at Severus who had come to kneel beside him. Their eyes as
silent communication passed between them. Severus smiled at his
winged mate and nodded. Vasaio smiled warmly in return, and
stood-his mate moving in tandem with him. Holding his arms out, he
gave their answer. "We would be greatly honored to be given the
gift of molding a new life for this small spirit."

As
Morrigan leaned forward to place the babe in Vasaio's arms, a
struggle was heard behind them.

"NO!
You can't let that demon live! Kill him!" Screamed Dumbledore
as he surged forward, trying to intercept the passing of the child.
He pulled himself to a sudden halt as glimmering swords blocked his
path.

"Albus,
son of Wulfric, you will be silent!" Morrigan commanded in a firm
but calm voice. "You have no say here. I know of your true
thoughts and they are not for the good of others, but only for
yourself."

"He's
a babe now. His soul is pure." She unwrapped the babe and
stroked a finger down his cheek. "He is no longer the Tom Riddle
that was Lord Voldemort."

"It
does not matter. He. Must. Die." The headmaster's eyes
flashed in fury as he made another failed attempt to reach
Morrigan-to take the spawn from her arms and kill it. Another set of
swords clanged in front of him as strong arms restrained him. He
ground his teeth as he fought against his keepers.

"How
many children and families have died because of the decisions you
have made? All for the greater good?" She asked him as her eyes
bored into his soul. Seeing all. Knowing all.

"I
did it for the good of the Wizarding World. I had to. No one else was
capable of the task."

"Just
like James and Lily?" Sirius snarled as he stepped forward. "You
forced them into hiding. You also knew the truth of my innocence.
Harry could have had a good home and grown up loved."

"It
had to be done. Harry needed grounding as a human before he learned
he was a wizard. He needed humility. If he had grown up in the
Wizarding World, he would have been fawned over. He had to be molded
into the weapon to destroy the Dark Lord."

"I
would have gladly taken him to live with me in seclusion----masked
his identity. He is my godson. For him I would have done anything.
Everything. You took that away from him --- and from me! It was not
your right!" Sirius began to pace in anger. "And, you secluded
Remus. Kept him away from Harry! Remus and I are Harry's only
family. We are pack! You should be ashamed!"

Albus
Dumbledore fell to his knees. The anger and the words spoke so much
truth. Had he only thought of the larger picture. Seen them all as
pawns in a war. Not as the people they were.

"I
am sorry. So sorry. I just wanted to do the right thing. Keep them
all safe. When my daughters died..."

Morrigan
turned a gaze of understanding and compassion on the elderly wizard
at her feet. "You lost yourself, Albus. You became lost in your
grief."

"I
am so sorry..." his voice wavered as his tears began to fall.
Tears of grief and sorrow. "I am so sorry for causing such
unhappiness." He turned his head and looked up at Vasaio. "I
am so sorry, Harry, for the things I have done and the things I
allowed to happen to you."

He
turned to face Sirius and Remus. "I apologize to both of you as
well, for keeping you from the only remaining tie you had to your
friends, and for not allowing you to be parents to Harry, when he
needed them so."

He
covered his face with his hands and his body shook as he wept, great
racking sobs shaking his body.

Harry
walked over to the man he once thought of as a grandfather. A man he
once trusted with everything that he was. "I forgive you,
Albus." He whispered quietly as he laid a gentle hand on the
shaking shoulder.

Vasaio
looked to his side, to see he had been joined by his mate. Severus
looked at the man he had considered his father and his keeper for
years.

"Albus,
I forgive you as well. I know you feel remorse for things you
required of me as well."

Remus'
voice sounded next. "We forgive you too. Holding a grudge does
noone good." Sirius nodded his head in agreement before laying it
on Remus' shoulder.

Moments
passed before Albus lifted his head. Tear stained cheeks and bright
eyes looked up to the Goddess before him. For the first time in
years... he felt a peace settle into his soul. A weight lifted from
his shoulders and he sighed in relief.

The
Queen of the Heavens turned. She smiled down at the cooing babe in
her arms. "He shall have a new name for his new soul, and his
new life." Turning the babe and holding him up for all to see, her
voice rose and she spoke loudly, " Tom Marvolo Riddle is no more.
Behold! Godric James Albus Potter-Snape." A glow surrounded the
bundle. "Now we must bond him to his fathers, and to those who
will watch over him and guide him in his life."

She
handed the child to Vasaio, and gestured to Sirius and Remus to step
forward. Then she turned and gestured again to Aeolus, Vanora, and
Kastos, beckoning them forward as well. As they formed a circle
around her, Vasaio, Severus, and young Godric, she looked around her.

"Aeolus,
where is your son?"

Aeolus
closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. "He comes my
Queen."

"I
am here, Father." Draco moved clear of the gathered angels,
approaching with a prominent limp. Vanora moved to help him
forward-an arm wrapped securely around his waist. She stood behind
him, as Morrigan touched his cheek in the same manner as she had
Severus just moments before.

As
Severus had just experienced, Draco gasped and fell back into
Vanora's embrace-of arms and wings, as his memories returned and
tears wet both their faces.

The
Queen smiled as she watched them reconnect after so long. "What
could have ended so badly, has become a day of joy."

Moving
forward, her dark robes flowing behind her, she motioned to those
around her to take their places around her. "I bring to you
gathered here, Godric James Albus Potter-Snape. Do you accept this
child, this babe, as your charge? To love and cherish?"

"We
do."

Morrigan
laid the child in Severus' arms. From the air she pulled an ancient
Athame forged in the fires of the inner earth. She made two small
cuts on the palms of the babe's hands without much fuss... then the
same on the two Men's. "Blood of the fathers. Blood of the
child," she chanted. At her nod the men took Godric small hands
and placed open cut to open cut. She began to chant again...in a
language only known to her. A glow enclosed all three.

Then
a second glow of blue reached out and enclosed the others--a caress
to their souls asking permission. Sirius, Remus, Vanora, Kastos,
Aeolus, Draco… and Albus. The old wizard was startled as the glow
reached him. Touched him... asking… giving forgiveness. Peace
filled his heart once more. And then love.

"I
would be honored, young Godric," the old man whispered through a
tear clogged throat.

They
gathered around the men and the babe. Cooing and laughing. It was a
day of celebration.

From
Morrigan's hands, a Raven flew up into the sky. Ever upward towards
the heavens.

Free
from the bondings of this earth as joy and happiness was spread.

The
battle had been won this day. The shadows pushed back once more by
the Fallen Angels. Instead of death, they chose life.

They
chose life.

Tom
Riddle is no more. His soul purged of the evil he allowed to comsume
him. And today, in his place a new soul has emerged. A soul to be
guided by those he chose to help him in this new life with his
father's chosen for him by the Queen of the heavens.

Morrigan.

Lord
Voldemort and Tom Riddle are dead.

Long
live the Queen.

And
the Fallen Angels?

Well
they will return to their lives, until she calls again.

When
darkness threatens the world once more.

But
that my friends is another story for another day.

::Finis::

but
is it ever???

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My
thanks to Morganlefay1958 for her help with this chapter.. now to
work on Somewhere I Belong and When You Come Back to Me Again.

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.